It's All Greek to Me!
Greek God of Theatre
Dionysus
Where did Commedia dell Arte originate?
Italy
We created these to demonstrate how we would bring a contemporary take of the Baroque style to the stage.
Moodboards
Literally "seeing place"; the structure of the theatre as a whole
Theatron
Device used to lift actors, usually when they’re portraying gods
Mechane
Where does the word tragedy have its origin?
Goat Song
What time period did Commedia Dell'Arte originate during?
Italian Renaissance
King Louis XIV established this, which allowed the nobility and middle class to pursue popular designers
Dress-Makers Guild
The part of the stage where the chorus would perform
Orchestra
Painted panels that rested in the openings on the proskenion and skene
Pinakes
Five day festival where tragic poets competed for notoriety
City Dionysia Festival / Festival of Dionysus
Widely held (but fixed and oversimplified) image/idea of a particular type of person/thing that is the basis for the stock characters of Commedia Dell'Arte
Stereotype
This is the name of a French artistic movement that emphasized lavishness and wealth without the somber tone of the Baroque Period
Rococo
Platform supported by columns in front of the skene, used as a higher stage for the actors.
Proskenion
Rolling platform used to reveal actions that happened out of the audience's view
Ekkyklema
A short comic tragedy, full of crude humor while utilizing dramatic conventions; written by the tragic poets
Satyr Play
Gags/stock jokes that are improvised into Commedia performances.
Lazzi
The reign of this monarch signaled the dawn of the classical Baroque Era
King Louis XIV
The backdrop of the stage, literally “tent”
Skene
Plot device in Greek drama where a seemingly unsolvable problem is resolved by the intervention of a god
Deus Ex Machina
Exuberant ritual chorus song in honor of Dionysus around an altar
Dithyramb
This stock character usually plays a scheming servant with wit and charm, while providing clowning and acrobatics for comedic effect
Arlecchino
This is what drove the Baroque Period's performance as ballet, opera, intermezzi, and masques took center stage
Spectacle
Small altar to Dionysus used for sacrifices or prayer before performances.
Thymele
Three-sided wooden structure used for quick scenic changes
Periaktoi